Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-09-30
CHAPTER III.

There was "A sound Of voices and light
laughter, the familiar swing of the garden
gate; they were coming back Everad placed
himself where he could watch for her Thtak-
ston was holding open the gate; Mrs. Gre
vile and Lady Clintock passed through, but
Cicely did not She fingered, talking to
Theakston, her little ambulance book and her
bandage in her hand, her face, ms she raised it
to his, clearly defined against Il background
of yew Then, instead of following the others
into the house, they turned aside together
down one of the paths
Everad stood until they were out of sight,
his face white with rage and his fists clinched;
then, falling back in his chair with a groan,
he covered his face with his hands.
God that man should carry such wild
beast i'll his breast as this
Afternoon again, and they were coming in
from shooting George could feel the snow
deathly cold about his feet, and the suns last
rays hot as flame upon his head. His gun
weighed heavy in his hand, and there was a
load of lead in his breast
TheakstOn was chatterng rs usual brag
ging of tine birds he had brought down, but,
as it seemed; with an extra meaning in his
brag They had reached the Hill top crowned
with trees. George could see the lacework OF
their branches against the saffron light Oh
the horizon; could see, too, fitting figure III
the garden below, and knew well enough
whose the figure was, and who was watching
it besides himself Presently there was a
wave of the little hand, and Theakston,
throwing his gun to the keeper, began run
ming down hill. A sharp report rang through
the stiffness, puff of smoke cleared away,
and some one was lying face downward in
the snow, the sunset Tor was 1t not the sun
set1 turning the white about his head to
crimson.
There was horror i'll the air, horror in their
looks as they gathered about him; but none in
Everad's heart. ExuItation there, and tri-
umph. He would never run to her reckoning
morel He should not have her.
Then came Cirey's pure eyes-,leep eyes,
full only of pity-pity for him,
oh, George! Could all your life of self
control and self denial do nothing to help you
from thist"
There was bitter cry-the cry of a man
who knows that he has fallen, and Everad
sprang to his feet, pale and trembling.
His cry was answered by another, and
childish treble piped out:
Did brighten you, Mr.. Everad' You did
jump It's only Elsie, and | want the
musical box"
Everad drew deep breath, and shook him
self together 1t had been only a vision-a
CHASTITY day dream. Not true But it might
have been-what did he knowi He had seen
them lingering in the garden together-that
was real; so was the heavy pain about his
heart.
The little voice kept piping on about its
wants
Couslu Cicely had said she was not to reach
down the musical box for herself and the
small warm fingers kept drawing him into
the next room
"Where is Cousin Cicelyi" ne asked He
would go to her and say goodDy, while he was
fit to touch her hand
He lifted the toy from the shelf; its foolish
little tune had run down, and followed the
childs pattering steps through the passages
The light was dazzling i'll Cicey's sitting
room as he stood looking in at the doorway
She was sitting before the fire. with Elsie's
brother on her hap, his face raised TO hers in
wrapt attention
"WhO has been drinking my MILK she was
saying. They were at the most thrilling
point Of the favorite story.
But she stopped and turned her face to his.
and agan great instinct triumphed over his
doubts. In spite of the paper he held in his
hand, in spite of what he had seen from the
window, if she were not the basest of co
quettes, if she had "A heart at ali. it was his,
not Theakston's another's
DO you want meg she said, locking won
deringiy up at his haggard face
"Ies, CiceIy, | want to know-tell me with
your own lips, sit true what they are saying,
that you are going to be married to Theak-
ston."
She rose hastily and faced him, putting the
child from her knee. Then her answer came
| quite low, i'll single word:
"No.r
That was all; but Everad felt that Ian
| guaSe could contain no negative more forcible
than the one word so spoken
He crushed the hateful paper in his palm,
and dropped it into the blaze.
| Then turning toward her, he saw that all
| the color had faded from her cheeks and she
| wore that look of helpless pain we see i'll the
| eyes of child who has been unjustIy chidden.
and dares not defend itself
u have hurt you" he cried, and when he
saw the dark eyes brim over, with the passion
ate impulse we feel toward the child we have
been wrongfully accusing, he caught her in
his arms and kissed the tears from her face.
The two round eyed spectators of this little
drama could bear no more.
Hand in hand they trotted off at full speed
to startIe their grandmother, reading aloud
about a charming villa residence to let at
Wimbledon, with the yet more interesting
information that Mr.. Everad had been
making Cousin Cicely cry, and now he was
kissing her better
So Cicelys marriage never appeared in
They Say. But Teddy Theakstons did, and
our readers will surely take more interest
than ever in the weekly descriptions of his
wifess dresses and dinner parties, when they
learn that this enviable leader of fashion is
none other than our old friend, Miss Hare
Belgravia.